Hannah Penn
1671-1726
A sketch of Hannah Penn.
Wife of the founder of Pennsylvania
Proprietor of Pennsylvania
Level 2 biography
Fast Facts
Hannah Callowhill Penn was the second wife of William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. After William Penn had a stroke in 1712, Hannah took over his business affairs. After his death she was the Proprietor (head of government) of Pennsylvania.
Born: Bristol, England on February 11, 1671
Married: William Penn, March 5, 1696
Children:
John (“The American”) 1699-1746
Thomas 1702-1775
Hannah Margarita 1703-1707
Margaret 1704-1750
Richard 1706-1771
Dennis 1707-1722
Hannah 1708-1709
Died: December 20, 1726
Proprietor of Pennsylvania
Level 2 biography
Fast Facts
Hannah Callowhill Penn was the second wife of William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. After William Penn had a stroke in 1712, Hannah took over his business affairs. After his death she was the Proprietor (head of government) of Pennsylvania.
Born: Bristol, England on February 11, 1671
Married: William Penn, March 5, 1696
Children:
John (“The American”) 1699-1746
Thomas 1702-1775
Hannah Margarita 1703-1707
Margaret 1704-1750
Richard 1706-1771
Dennis 1707-1722
Hannah 1708-1709
Died: December 20, 1726
Early Life
Hannah Callowhill was born on February 11, 1671 in Bristol, a city in England. Her mother, Hannah Hollister Callowhill, had nine children. Hannah was the sixth child born. She was the only one who lived to grow up. By age 14 she was an only child. Hannah’s family was involved in business. Her grandfather, Dennis Hollister, was a grocer. Her father, Thomas Callowhill, had a company that made buttons. The family belonged to the Quaker religion.
Hannah was a clever, serious child. Her parents decided to teach her about the world of business. Her father taught Hannah how his business was managed. She learned about exporting and importing goods. He trained her to keep account of money. Hannah’s mother was active in the community. She was a leader in finding jobs for poor people, and providing money for those who needed it. Hannah learned from her how to care for the poor and for people who needed jobs. Her mother also taught her the skills of managing a home.
The Jobs of Men and Women
At this time in history, men took care of the farm or business. Women cared for their home and their children, but were allowed to do other things as well. They could be their husbands’ partners in business, collect rents, and manage estates. They could also execute wills. This meant that when a person died the executor (or executrix, if it was a woman) made sure that the person’s wishes as stated in their will were carried out. Women also could go to court to ask for justice. Widows who had been partners with their husbands could continue to run the family business.
Hannah Meets William Penn
Hannah grew into a dignified young woman. Although she was not beautiful, she was charming, with large brown eyes. She was serene and graceful. She had an excellent understanding of business, as well as how to manage a home. She was also rather shy. Most women married young. Hannah was still not married at age 24. Some people called her an “old maid.”
A man named William Penn visited some Quaker groups in Bristol. It was here that Hannah met him. He was 52 years old, much older than she.
Who was William Penn?
William Penn was a businessman. He had been married before. He had three grown children. His wife, Gulielma, had died in 1694.
William Penn’s father was a famous Admiral in the Navy. His name was Admiral Sir William Penn. When he died he left money and land to his son, William. The land was an estate in Ireland. The money was an income of 1500 pounds (English money) each year.
On top of this, King Charles II owed money to William’s father for his work as an Admiral. To pay his debt, King Charles granted William some land in the Americas. William was called the Proprietor of this land. He had a Charter from the King allowing him to govern the people there. William wanted people to have religious freedom. He decided to set up his colony to allow people to worship as they liked. He invited people who wanted religious freedom to move to his colony. The colony was named Pennsylvania, meaning “Penn’s Woods.” The first immigrants went to Pennsylvania in 1682. Long before he met Hannah, William visited Pennsylvania. He returned to England in 1684. While he was away in England his Assistant Governor was in charge. His name was Governor William Markham. A group of men called The Assembly helped make decisions to govern the colony. William had a house built outside of the city in 1687. He called the place Pennsbury. William expected to live there one day.
William Penn Courts Hannah Callowhill
William liked Hannah very much. He tried to be friendly to her family. He went to a lot of trouble to find a special recipe for drying fruit for her mother. He talked with her father about business.
William wrote many letters to Hannah. She wrote back to him, but not as often. He wrote to her for almost a year. In one letter, William asked Hannah to marry him. She did not answer this question in a letter. In November of 1695 she said yes. They went before the Quaker meeting to say that they planned to marry.
Not everyone was happy with this plan. Some people thought that William should wait longer after the death of his first wife. William’s children did not mind. William decided to go ahead as planned.
Many people were sick that winter. Both Hannah and William were ill. Hannah worried about the marriage. William wrote to her often. William’s son Springett became sick in February of 1696. He had a cough and a cold.
Marriage
Hannah and her family planned the wedding. 66 people were invited. Hannah wanted a carriage with a little decoration. William insisted that the carriage must be plain.
William and Hannah were married at the old Broadhead Meeting in Bristol, England, on March 5, 1696.
William had a home at Worminghurst, in the country. This is where the couple settled. Hannah would have liked to live in town, to be near her parents. William liked to live where it was quiet.
Springett was still sick. Hannah’s first job as William’s wife was to care for his son. She did the best job she could, but he was too sick to recover. Springett died on April 10, 1696.
Business Problems
It was hard for William to manage his colony from far away. His governor, Governor Markham, did not always do a good job. The Assembly wanted more power for themselves. Governor Markham could not handle them. William could see that he needed to be in America himself.
The Voyage to America
William and Hannah agreed to settle in Pennsylvania. On September 3, 1699 William and Hannah sailed for America on the ship Canterbury. They took William’s daughter Letitia with them. William also took along a young man to be his secretary. This man was named James Logan. He became a life-long friend and supporter of the family.
The trip took three months. The weather was bad. The food was salty. There was not enough water to drink. There were lice. Hannah was pregnant. She was seasick and uncomfortable.
Philadelphia
The Penns arrived in Pennsylvania in December of 1699. Edward Shippen, the mayor Philadelphia, met them at the dock. Samuel Carpenter and his wife were also there to meet them. Mr. Carpenter was a rich merchant. His wife was named Hannah Hardiman Carpenter. She could see that Hannah Penn needed some care. She took Hannah and Letitia to the Carpenter mansion. It was called The Slate Roof House. She made Hannah comfortable. The Penns stayed at the Slate Roof House for several months. Hannah’s first son was born on January 28, 1700. His name was John. Several women came to help with the birth.
Pennsbury Manor
Hannah was young and strong. She was soon healthy again. In the spring the family moved to Pennsbury. This house stood beside the Delaware River. It was beautiful there, but very far away from everything. It was not easy to reach. Hannah and her family traveled there by barge. They took several servants with them.
Managing a large house was a very big job. There was no one else nearby. Philadelphia was 24 miles away. It was 9 miles to Burlington and 6 miles to Fallsington. Hannah and her servants had to make whatever they needed, or ask for it to be sent to them. They grew food in the garden, spun yarn, and wove cloth. Hannah planned the meals, using recipes she had brought with her. She made medicines from the herbs in the garden. She brewed beer and ale. She made marigold wine, and a drink called mead. She watched over the servants. She made sure that they had good manners. Often Hannah wrote letters to James Logan, asking him to send her things like a washtub, candles, and cloth. She also wrote letters home to England. She asked James Logan to find a ship sailing to England to deliver them.
Pictures of Pennsbury Manor
Even with all of this work, Hannah still had business to attend to. Her father, Thomas Callowhill, had bought 2 pieces of land in Pennsylvania. He sent Hannah directions on how to manage the land. She did what he asked her to do.
When winter came, the family moved back into Philadelphia. Letitia had a small red brick house of her own. She and Hannah traveled from place to place in a sedan chair. Hannah was very active in town life while she was living there. We know that she witnessed three weddings.
Problems with the Colony
Even though William was the Proprietor of the Colony, he was not able to do exactly as he pleased. The King back in England had to be kept happy. William had to make money. This was not always easy to do. Not everyone supported William as Proprietor. The Assembly refused to give him a salary for his work as Governor. People sometimes did not pay the rents they owed.
Back in England, Parliament threatened to take over all proprietary governments. If this happened, William would lose everything. William decided to go back to England to fight for his land. He told Hannah to stay in Pennsylvania. Hannah refused.
Hannah Penn knew her husband well. She knew that he was not good at business matters. He trusted other people too quickly. He was not a good judge of character. Hannah needed to stay with William to help him make the right decisions. She told him that she would go back to England with him. When he returned to Pennsylvania, she would too.
Return to England
Hannah and William had been in Pennsylvania for 23 months. Hannah had made some good friends there. When she left, Isaac Norris said,
“We love her, and she deserves it.”
On November 3, 1701, the Penns sailed for England on the Dolmahoy. When they arrived in December, William went right to London. Hannah was seven months pregnant. She went to her parents’ home in Bristol. Here her second son, Thomas, was born on March 9, 1702.
Letitia was engaged to a merchant from London. His name was William Aubrey. Hannah went to Worminghurst to help Letitia get ready for her wedding. Letitia and William were married on August 20, 1702.
The Ford Problem
This was a terrible time for William. He had many money problems. One of his biggest problems came from the Ford family. Years before, Philip Ford had been William’s secretary. Ford had not been honest with William. He drew up some papers for William to sign. The papers said that William granted Pennsylvania to Philip Ford. William was too trusting. He signed the papers without reading them. Now Philip Ford was dead, but his wife Bridget had the papers. She sued William. She said that if he did not pay her, she would sell Pennsylvania. William fought a long, expensive legal battle against Mrs. Ford.
Family Money Problems
Members of the family also caused trouble for William. William had a grown son named William Jr. William Jr. was lazy and wasteful. He did not help his father with his problems. He lived in London and spent a lot of money. He left his wife and children at William’s house at Worminghurst. He expected his father to pay all of his debts.
Letitia’s new husband, William Aubrey, was a greedy man. When he married Letitia, he demanded 2000 English pounds for her dowry. William did not have this much money. Aubrey charged him interest on what he owed.
Hannah did what she could to help. To save money, she stayed with her parents in Bristol. Even though she did not like William Aubrey, she took over paying their debt to him. She called him a “muck-worm”, which means someone who grubs for money.
Decision to Sell Pennsylvania.
By 1703, William had had enough of managing a colony. He decided to sell the rights to Pennsylvania to Queen Anne. He asked for twenty thousand English pounds. The Queen was not willing to pay that much.
A Growing Family
Hannah stayed with her parents in Bristol for a long time. Her children Hannah Margarita, Margaret, and Richard were born there. After this Hannah moved to London to be with William. They lived in Ealing. Their son Dennis was born there. Little Hannah Margarita, whom William dearly loved, died at the age of four. For a short time, William was put into prison at The Fleet. Hannah lived nearby in Ludgate Parish. Here, in 1708, another little girl was born. She was also named Hannah. She only lived for one year.
Settlement
In 1708 Mrs. Ford finally agreed to a payment of 7600 English pounds. William did not have this much money. Some friends helped him. Thomas Callowhill, Hannah’s father, probably provided 1000 pounds. A group of London merchants paid the other 6600 pounds. William now had a mortgage on Pennsylvania. He did not owe Mrs. Ford anything.
Ruscombe
Pennsylvania was now safe, but William and Hannah had a huge debt to pay. They rented a house in the village of Ruscombe, in Berkshire. Hannah thought the house was too big, but William liked it. They hoped that James Logan would send them money and goods from the colony. There was never enough money. Hannah sold some land that she owned. William Jr.’s wife and children still lived with them. For three years the family lived in Ruscombe, and concentrated on paying off their debts. William once again tried to get the government to take over the colony. He asked for twelve thousand pounds.
Hannah’s Parents Die
In the summer of 1912 Hannah’s mother died. Her father died eight weeks later. Hannah was the executrix of her father’s will. She had the job of settling his estate. Hannah swore on the Bible that she would do the job. Quakers do not usually swear in this way. Hannah did it to make sure that the court accepted her actions.
William’s Stroke
In October of 1712 William Penn had a stroke. He was writing a letter, and stopped in the middle of a sentence. His mind was affected by the stroke. He became like a child. He was easily upset. The doctors told Hannah not to bother him with business matters.
Now Hannah was responsible for many things. William depended on her. Her children and step-grandchildren needed her care. She had promised to settle her father’s affairs. She also felt responsible for Pennsylvania. She had to pay off the debt. She wanted to care for the colony the way William would have done. Hannah set out to manage her husband’s affairs for him. She became Acting Proprietor of Pennsylvania.
Hannah Penn In Charge
Hannah decided to continue to pay off the debt. She gave James Logan the power to act for her in Pennsylvania. Isaac Norris and some other men also helped her. She managed all affairs by letter. She tried to write letters during the day. When William saw her writing, he became upset. Hannah could only write letters after William was asleep.
The governor by now was a different man. His name was Governor Charles Gookin. William had made him governor in 1709. Governor Gookin was not a good governor. He looked out only for himself. He argued with James Logan and Isaac Norris.
The Queen changed some of the colony’s laws. She removed the Affirmation Act. This was a law that said that Quakers did not have to swear an oath to say that they were loyal to the Queen. Without this act, Quakers were not able to take jobs with the government. They could not be on a jury or testify in court. This was the opposite of what William Penn had wanted. He had tried to create a place where people could have religious freedom.
A Disagreement with Lord Baltimore
The colony of Maryland was just south of the colony of Pennsylvania. Maryland belonged to Lord Baltimore. He believed that the land up to and including Philadelphia really belonged to Maryland. This area was called “the lower counties.” Both Lord Baltimore and William Penn’s representatives were asking for rents from the people that lived there. They did not know whom to pay.
Hannah could not prove that the land belonged to Pennsylvania. She could not find the original deed signed by Queen Mary. Hannah searched everywhere. Finally in February 1714 she found the paper. It proved that the land in the lower counties had been given to William.
Selling the Colony
The government in England had been considering William’s request to sell the rights to Pennsylvania to the Queen. William insisted on privileges for the people in Pennsylvania. Hannah was sure that this was why the process took such a long time. In March 1714 the Privy Council voted to agree to William’s proposal. Parliament needed to pass an act accepting the sale. That summer Queen Anne died. George I became the new king. In May 1715 the request was taken to King George. No one at court was interested.
A New Governor
In Pennsylvania, Governor Gookin was behaving badly. Some people said that he was insane. The Council in Pennsylvania asked for a new Governor. In April 1716 they chose Sir William Keith. Hannah approved of the choice. William did not understand what was happening. Hannah needed him to sign the commission for Governor Keith. She guided his hand so that he could write his name.
That same month Hannah sent a package to James Logan’s wife. In it were some medicines that she had made herself. They were “convulsion water,” black cherry water, syrup of violets, and powder of coral.
The next year, 1717, John had smallpox. Tom had already had it, and had recovered. Hannah was busy with nursing her sons and her husband. William Aubrey was still asking for money. There was always a need for income.
The Death of William Penn
William’s last years were very simple. He did not remember much. He was sweet-tempered and cheerful, but did not recognize his friends. He did not always know where he was. He did not understand much of what people said to him. He loved to be with his children and grandchildren.
On July 30, 1718 Thomas Story came to visit. Just after he left William began to shiver. He had a fever. Hannah sent after Thomas Story and asked him to come back. When he arrived back at the house, William was dead.
William Penn’s Will
William wanted to be sure that the sale of Pennsylvania would be completed. In his will he left the government in trust to two friends. They were John, Earl Poulet, and Robert Harley, Lord Oxford. He directed that land in Pennsylvania should be sold to pay his debts. He left 10,000 acres of land each to his three grandchildren and his daughter Laetitia. The rest of the land was left to Hannah. She was to give it to her children in portions that she would decide. Hannah was the executrix of the will. The land in Ireland went to William Jr.
At the bottom of the will, under the signatures of William and the witnesses, William had added another note. He left Hannah 300 English pounds per year for life. This was to come from the rents from America.
William Jr. contested the will. He thought that he should govern Pennsylvania. He went to court. He tried to have Hannah’s income cut off. She had not even paid for William’s funeral when this happened. William Jr. was so sure that he would win that he sent a message to Governor Keith saying that he was in charge.
At first the court thought that it would give the inheritance to William Jr. Usually property went to the oldest son. People in both the Board of Trade and in the Assembly spoke up for Hannah. They supported her claim to her husband’s property. The court decided in Hannah’s favor. The only thing that they did not allow was the income of 300 pounds a year. This was because it was written after the will had been witnessed. They said added paragraphs were not legal.
Hannah Moves to Town
The house in Ruscombe was very large. It took a lot of work and money to run. Hannah had stayed there because William liked it. Now that he was dead, she had no wish to stay. Her children were mostly grown. She was lonely so far from the city. Most of all, she wanted to save money. Hannah decided to give up the house and move to rented rooms. She kept only one servant. She moved out on March 25, 1719.
By now, half of the payment on the mortgage had been made. Hannah wanted to pay off the rest. The house at Pennsbury belonged to William Jr. The furniture did not. Hannah arranged to have the furniture sold to raise money.
In 1720 William Jr. died in France of tuberculosis. Hannah hoped that this would bring peace. It did not. William Jr.’s son, Springett, was the new problem. He had lived in Hannah’s home since he was 8 years old. He had always been friendly to her. But Springett wanted money. Now he also tried to overturn his grandfather’s will.
Hannah Penn, Proprietor
Hannah was now the Proprietor of Pennsylvania. That meant that she was the legal governor. Lord Oxford and Earl Poulet followed her wishes.
Hannah continued to try to have the Crown take over the governing of Pennsylvania. In 1720 she sent a five-page petition to the Lords Justice of Great Britain. She asked for the surrender of the colony to be completed. She also asked for a final decision on Lord Baltimore’s claim. There was no answer. The next year Hannah sent another petition. This one was sent on April 25, 1721 to the Court of Exchequer. Hannah would not give up.
Back in Pennsylvania, there were problems. The Assembly passed a law taking away a woman’s right to inherit her husband’s estate. A woman named Rebecca Clark Richardson had inherited her husband’s estate. The court sold everything and left her nothing. This distressed Hannah. She wrote to Governor Keith. She asked him to right this wrong.
Ex-Governor Gookin was still hanging around. He wanted to own the islands in the Delaware River. On June 29, 1720 Hannah went to court with her lawyer, Andrew Hamilton. She stated that the islands were part of the Pennsylvania colony. The court took one year to decide. They decided that the islands belonged to the Crown.
Hannah is Sick
Hannah continued to write to James Logan. He was her advisor, her agent, and her friend. When Mrs. Logan had a baby girl, James named her Hannah.
In the last months of 1721 Hannah Penn had a stroke. It did not affect her mind. It did make her body very weak. In 1722 Dennis died of smallpox. He was 16 years old. Hannah was very sad.
James Logan did not hear from Hannah for 20 months. He was worried that she was upset with him. He wrote a letter and asked what was wrong. John wrote back and said that Hannah was sick. John tried to keep in touch with Logan. He did not always write. John was often sick, too.
Hannah still managed her affairs. In 1724 she sold some land in Bristol. She kept an eye on the accounts from Pennsylvania. When a man named Thomas Cox paid too much rent, Hannah told James Logan to pay him back.
Hannah moved several times. She lived in Hammersmith, Crown Court, Aldersgate, London, Bath, Tumbridge Wells, and Bristol.
James Logan Comes to England
Hannah had always been very good about writing letters. Now she could not write so often. James Logan was concerned. He decided to go to England to see her. He sailed in autumn of 1723. Hannah was delighted to see him. She longed to hear how the colony was doing.
There were two major areas of business to be discussed. The first was the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Together, Hannah and Logan went to see Lord Baltimore. They met him at the George and Vulture Tavern on February 17, 1724. They signed an agreement. It said that both sides would leave the lower counties alone for 18 months. Neither would ask for rents from the people who lived there.
The second concern was about the control of Pennsylvania. Governor Keith was a good governor. He looked out for the rights of the Quakers and the Native Americans. But he did not like James Logan. He also did not like taking orders from a woman. He made some laws without talking with the Council. Hannah wrote to him. She told him that he must do things her way. If he did not, she could take away his job. She said that he must respect James Logan. She told him to make Logan Secretary of the Government.
Hannah designed a new way to keep track of rents that were paid. It was more business-like. She gave James Logan 5000 acres of land. She told him to make sure that people did their jobs.
Another New Governor
By 1725 Hannah was feeling much better. The mortgage was almost paid off. She changed her mind about letting the Crown take over Pennsylvania. She thought that perhaps she could keep the colony for her children.
In Pennsylvania, Governor Keith still could not get along with James Logan. One of them had to go. Hannah trusted James Logan. She dismissed Governor Keith. In 1726 she appointed a new governor. His name was Major Patrick Gordon. Hannah sent instructions to him. She told him to be good to the Native Americans. She also told him to make James Logan Secretary and Clerk of Council.
Governor Keith had been talking to the Assembly. He told them that the Penns were unfair to him. The Assembly wrote to Hannah and complained about her treatment of Keith. She answered their letter in April. She told them that what they believed about Keith was not true. She told them that they were lucky that he had not taken over the government.
Governor Gordon arrived in Philadelphia. His commission was read to the Council on June 22. He was now the official governor.
A New Will
On January 7, 1726 Hannah made a new will. She left half of her property to John. He was expected to give Margaret 2000 pounds when she was married, or when she turned 21. One quarter of the estate went to Thomas, and one quarter to Richard.
Hannah’s Last Days
Hannah wrote one more petition to the Court of Exchequer. She asked them to rule on William’s will. On December 13, 1726 they finally made a decision. They ruled in favor of Hannah. She was the rightful heir. The whole process had taken 8 years. It had taken most of the family’s money, and all of Hannah’s strength.
One week later, on December 20, 1726, Hannah had a second stroke. She had been well all day. She had eaten dinner. Then, suddenly, she lost her power to speak. She died 20 hours later. Hannah was buried with William at Jordan’s Meeting House in Buckinghamshire, England.
Hannah Penn’s Legacy
Hannah had done a good job. In Pennsylvania, religious beliefs were respected. There had been no fighting over the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania. The people lived in peace. The only unfinished business was the argument over the border. This was finally decided, in Pennsylvania’s favor, in 1751. James Logan lived long enough to see this happen.
There was no executor for Hannah’s will. The court did honor William’s will. Springett claimed Pennsbury manor and the land around it. The rest remained with Hannah’s children. They held Pennsylvania until the Revolutionary War. At that time Pennsylvania became a state of the new United States, and no longer had ties to any one owner.
An honor for Hannah
On November 28, 1984 President Ronald Reagan made both William and Hannah Penn honorary citizens of the United States.
Where we see her name today
There are several streets in the Philadelphia area named Callowhill. This was Hannah’s family name.
Hannah Callowhill was born on February 11, 1671 in Bristol, a city in England. Her mother, Hannah Hollister Callowhill, had nine children. Hannah was the sixth child born. She was the only one who lived to grow up. By age 14 she was an only child. Hannah’s family was involved in business. Her grandfather, Dennis Hollister, was a grocer. Her father, Thomas Callowhill, had a company that made buttons. The family belonged to the Quaker religion.
Hannah was a clever, serious child. Her parents decided to teach her about the world of business. Her father taught Hannah how his business was managed. She learned about exporting and importing goods. He trained her to keep account of money. Hannah’s mother was active in the community. She was a leader in finding jobs for poor people, and providing money for those who needed it. Hannah learned from her how to care for the poor and for people who needed jobs. Her mother also taught her the skills of managing a home.
The Jobs of Men and Women
At this time in history, men took care of the farm or business. Women cared for their home and their children, but were allowed to do other things as well. They could be their husbands’ partners in business, collect rents, and manage estates. They could also execute wills. This meant that when a person died the executor (or executrix, if it was a woman) made sure that the person’s wishes as stated in their will were carried out. Women also could go to court to ask for justice. Widows who had been partners with their husbands could continue to run the family business.
Hannah Meets William Penn
Hannah grew into a dignified young woman. Although she was not beautiful, she was charming, with large brown eyes. She was serene and graceful. She had an excellent understanding of business, as well as how to manage a home. She was also rather shy. Most women married young. Hannah was still not married at age 24. Some people called her an “old maid.”
A man named William Penn visited some Quaker groups in Bristol. It was here that Hannah met him. He was 52 years old, much older than she.
Who was William Penn?
William Penn was a businessman. He had been married before. He had three grown children. His wife, Gulielma, had died in 1694.
William Penn’s father was a famous Admiral in the Navy. His name was Admiral Sir William Penn. When he died he left money and land to his son, William. The land was an estate in Ireland. The money was an income of 1500 pounds (English money) each year.
On top of this, King Charles II owed money to William’s father for his work as an Admiral. To pay his debt, King Charles granted William some land in the Americas. William was called the Proprietor of this land. He had a Charter from the King allowing him to govern the people there. William wanted people to have religious freedom. He decided to set up his colony to allow people to worship as they liked. He invited people who wanted religious freedom to move to his colony. The colony was named Pennsylvania, meaning “Penn’s Woods.” The first immigrants went to Pennsylvania in 1682. Long before he met Hannah, William visited Pennsylvania. He returned to England in 1684. While he was away in England his Assistant Governor was in charge. His name was Governor William Markham. A group of men called The Assembly helped make decisions to govern the colony. William had a house built outside of the city in 1687. He called the place Pennsbury. William expected to live there one day.
William Penn Courts Hannah Callowhill
William liked Hannah very much. He tried to be friendly to her family. He went to a lot of trouble to find a special recipe for drying fruit for her mother. He talked with her father about business.
William wrote many letters to Hannah. She wrote back to him, but not as often. He wrote to her for almost a year. In one letter, William asked Hannah to marry him. She did not answer this question in a letter. In November of 1695 she said yes. They went before the Quaker meeting to say that they planned to marry.
Not everyone was happy with this plan. Some people thought that William should wait longer after the death of his first wife. William’s children did not mind. William decided to go ahead as planned.
Many people were sick that winter. Both Hannah and William were ill. Hannah worried about the marriage. William wrote to her often. William’s son Springett became sick in February of 1696. He had a cough and a cold.
Marriage
Hannah and her family planned the wedding. 66 people were invited. Hannah wanted a carriage with a little decoration. William insisted that the carriage must be plain.
William and Hannah were married at the old Broadhead Meeting in Bristol, England, on March 5, 1696.
William had a home at Worminghurst, in the country. This is where the couple settled. Hannah would have liked to live in town, to be near her parents. William liked to live where it was quiet.
Springett was still sick. Hannah’s first job as William’s wife was to care for his son. She did the best job she could, but he was too sick to recover. Springett died on April 10, 1696.
Business Problems
It was hard for William to manage his colony from far away. His governor, Governor Markham, did not always do a good job. The Assembly wanted more power for themselves. Governor Markham could not handle them. William could see that he needed to be in America himself.
The Voyage to America
William and Hannah agreed to settle in Pennsylvania. On September 3, 1699 William and Hannah sailed for America on the ship Canterbury. They took William’s daughter Letitia with them. William also took along a young man to be his secretary. This man was named James Logan. He became a life-long friend and supporter of the family.
The trip took three months. The weather was bad. The food was salty. There was not enough water to drink. There were lice. Hannah was pregnant. She was seasick and uncomfortable.
Philadelphia
The Penns arrived in Pennsylvania in December of 1699. Edward Shippen, the mayor Philadelphia, met them at the dock. Samuel Carpenter and his wife were also there to meet them. Mr. Carpenter was a rich merchant. His wife was named Hannah Hardiman Carpenter. She could see that Hannah Penn needed some care. She took Hannah and Letitia to the Carpenter mansion. It was called The Slate Roof House. She made Hannah comfortable. The Penns stayed at the Slate Roof House for several months. Hannah’s first son was born on January 28, 1700. His name was John. Several women came to help with the birth.
Pennsbury Manor
Hannah was young and strong. She was soon healthy again. In the spring the family moved to Pennsbury. This house stood beside the Delaware River. It was beautiful there, but very far away from everything. It was not easy to reach. Hannah and her family traveled there by barge. They took several servants with them.
Managing a large house was a very big job. There was no one else nearby. Philadelphia was 24 miles away. It was 9 miles to Burlington and 6 miles to Fallsington. Hannah and her servants had to make whatever they needed, or ask for it to be sent to them. They grew food in the garden, spun yarn, and wove cloth. Hannah planned the meals, using recipes she had brought with her. She made medicines from the herbs in the garden. She brewed beer and ale. She made marigold wine, and a drink called mead. She watched over the servants. She made sure that they had good manners. Often Hannah wrote letters to James Logan, asking him to send her things like a washtub, candles, and cloth. She also wrote letters home to England. She asked James Logan to find a ship sailing to England to deliver them.
Pictures of Pennsbury Manor
Even with all of this work, Hannah still had business to attend to. Her father, Thomas Callowhill, had bought 2 pieces of land in Pennsylvania. He sent Hannah directions on how to manage the land. She did what he asked her to do.
When winter came, the family moved back into Philadelphia. Letitia had a small red brick house of her own. She and Hannah traveled from place to place in a sedan chair. Hannah was very active in town life while she was living there. We know that she witnessed three weddings.
Problems with the Colony
Even though William was the Proprietor of the Colony, he was not able to do exactly as he pleased. The King back in England had to be kept happy. William had to make money. This was not always easy to do. Not everyone supported William as Proprietor. The Assembly refused to give him a salary for his work as Governor. People sometimes did not pay the rents they owed.
Back in England, Parliament threatened to take over all proprietary governments. If this happened, William would lose everything. William decided to go back to England to fight for his land. He told Hannah to stay in Pennsylvania. Hannah refused.
Hannah Penn knew her husband well. She knew that he was not good at business matters. He trusted other people too quickly. He was not a good judge of character. Hannah needed to stay with William to help him make the right decisions. She told him that she would go back to England with him. When he returned to Pennsylvania, she would too.
Return to England
Hannah and William had been in Pennsylvania for 23 months. Hannah had made some good friends there. When she left, Isaac Norris said,
“We love her, and she deserves it.”
On November 3, 1701, the Penns sailed for England on the Dolmahoy. When they arrived in December, William went right to London. Hannah was seven months pregnant. She went to her parents’ home in Bristol. Here her second son, Thomas, was born on March 9, 1702.
Letitia was engaged to a merchant from London. His name was William Aubrey. Hannah went to Worminghurst to help Letitia get ready for her wedding. Letitia and William were married on August 20, 1702.
The Ford Problem
This was a terrible time for William. He had many money problems. One of his biggest problems came from the Ford family. Years before, Philip Ford had been William’s secretary. Ford had not been honest with William. He drew up some papers for William to sign. The papers said that William granted Pennsylvania to Philip Ford. William was too trusting. He signed the papers without reading them. Now Philip Ford was dead, but his wife Bridget had the papers. She sued William. She said that if he did not pay her, she would sell Pennsylvania. William fought a long, expensive legal battle against Mrs. Ford.
Family Money Problems
Members of the family also caused trouble for William. William had a grown son named William Jr. William Jr. was lazy and wasteful. He did not help his father with his problems. He lived in London and spent a lot of money. He left his wife and children at William’s house at Worminghurst. He expected his father to pay all of his debts.
Letitia’s new husband, William Aubrey, was a greedy man. When he married Letitia, he demanded 2000 English pounds for her dowry. William did not have this much money. Aubrey charged him interest on what he owed.
Hannah did what she could to help. To save money, she stayed with her parents in Bristol. Even though she did not like William Aubrey, she took over paying their debt to him. She called him a “muck-worm”, which means someone who grubs for money.
Decision to Sell Pennsylvania.
By 1703, William had had enough of managing a colony. He decided to sell the rights to Pennsylvania to Queen Anne. He asked for twenty thousand English pounds. The Queen was not willing to pay that much.
A Growing Family
Hannah stayed with her parents in Bristol for a long time. Her children Hannah Margarita, Margaret, and Richard were born there. After this Hannah moved to London to be with William. They lived in Ealing. Their son Dennis was born there. Little Hannah Margarita, whom William dearly loved, died at the age of four. For a short time, William was put into prison at The Fleet. Hannah lived nearby in Ludgate Parish. Here, in 1708, another little girl was born. She was also named Hannah. She only lived for one year.
Settlement
In 1708 Mrs. Ford finally agreed to a payment of 7600 English pounds. William did not have this much money. Some friends helped him. Thomas Callowhill, Hannah’s father, probably provided 1000 pounds. A group of London merchants paid the other 6600 pounds. William now had a mortgage on Pennsylvania. He did not owe Mrs. Ford anything.
Ruscombe
Pennsylvania was now safe, but William and Hannah had a huge debt to pay. They rented a house in the village of Ruscombe, in Berkshire. Hannah thought the house was too big, but William liked it. They hoped that James Logan would send them money and goods from the colony. There was never enough money. Hannah sold some land that she owned. William Jr.’s wife and children still lived with them. For three years the family lived in Ruscombe, and concentrated on paying off their debts. William once again tried to get the government to take over the colony. He asked for twelve thousand pounds.
Hannah’s Parents Die
In the summer of 1912 Hannah’s mother died. Her father died eight weeks later. Hannah was the executrix of her father’s will. She had the job of settling his estate. Hannah swore on the Bible that she would do the job. Quakers do not usually swear in this way. Hannah did it to make sure that the court accepted her actions.
William’s Stroke
In October of 1712 William Penn had a stroke. He was writing a letter, and stopped in the middle of a sentence. His mind was affected by the stroke. He became like a child. He was easily upset. The doctors told Hannah not to bother him with business matters.
Now Hannah was responsible for many things. William depended on her. Her children and step-grandchildren needed her care. She had promised to settle her father’s affairs. She also felt responsible for Pennsylvania. She had to pay off the debt. She wanted to care for the colony the way William would have done. Hannah set out to manage her husband’s affairs for him. She became Acting Proprietor of Pennsylvania.
Hannah Penn In Charge
Hannah decided to continue to pay off the debt. She gave James Logan the power to act for her in Pennsylvania. Isaac Norris and some other men also helped her. She managed all affairs by letter. She tried to write letters during the day. When William saw her writing, he became upset. Hannah could only write letters after William was asleep.
The governor by now was a different man. His name was Governor Charles Gookin. William had made him governor in 1709. Governor Gookin was not a good governor. He looked out only for himself. He argued with James Logan and Isaac Norris.
The Queen changed some of the colony’s laws. She removed the Affirmation Act. This was a law that said that Quakers did not have to swear an oath to say that they were loyal to the Queen. Without this act, Quakers were not able to take jobs with the government. They could not be on a jury or testify in court. This was the opposite of what William Penn had wanted. He had tried to create a place where people could have religious freedom.
A Disagreement with Lord Baltimore
The colony of Maryland was just south of the colony of Pennsylvania. Maryland belonged to Lord Baltimore. He believed that the land up to and including Philadelphia really belonged to Maryland. This area was called “the lower counties.” Both Lord Baltimore and William Penn’s representatives were asking for rents from the people that lived there. They did not know whom to pay.
Hannah could not prove that the land belonged to Pennsylvania. She could not find the original deed signed by Queen Mary. Hannah searched everywhere. Finally in February 1714 she found the paper. It proved that the land in the lower counties had been given to William.
Selling the Colony
The government in England had been considering William’s request to sell the rights to Pennsylvania to the Queen. William insisted on privileges for the people in Pennsylvania. Hannah was sure that this was why the process took such a long time. In March 1714 the Privy Council voted to agree to William’s proposal. Parliament needed to pass an act accepting the sale. That summer Queen Anne died. George I became the new king. In May 1715 the request was taken to King George. No one at court was interested.
A New Governor
In Pennsylvania, Governor Gookin was behaving badly. Some people said that he was insane. The Council in Pennsylvania asked for a new Governor. In April 1716 they chose Sir William Keith. Hannah approved of the choice. William did not understand what was happening. Hannah needed him to sign the commission for Governor Keith. She guided his hand so that he could write his name.
That same month Hannah sent a package to James Logan’s wife. In it were some medicines that she had made herself. They were “convulsion water,” black cherry water, syrup of violets, and powder of coral.
The next year, 1717, John had smallpox. Tom had already had it, and had recovered. Hannah was busy with nursing her sons and her husband. William Aubrey was still asking for money. There was always a need for income.
The Death of William Penn
William’s last years were very simple. He did not remember much. He was sweet-tempered and cheerful, but did not recognize his friends. He did not always know where he was. He did not understand much of what people said to him. He loved to be with his children and grandchildren.
On July 30, 1718 Thomas Story came to visit. Just after he left William began to shiver. He had a fever. Hannah sent after Thomas Story and asked him to come back. When he arrived back at the house, William was dead.
William Penn’s Will
William wanted to be sure that the sale of Pennsylvania would be completed. In his will he left the government in trust to two friends. They were John, Earl Poulet, and Robert Harley, Lord Oxford. He directed that land in Pennsylvania should be sold to pay his debts. He left 10,000 acres of land each to his three grandchildren and his daughter Laetitia. The rest of the land was left to Hannah. She was to give it to her children in portions that she would decide. Hannah was the executrix of the will. The land in Ireland went to William Jr.
At the bottom of the will, under the signatures of William and the witnesses, William had added another note. He left Hannah 300 English pounds per year for life. This was to come from the rents from America.
William Jr. contested the will. He thought that he should govern Pennsylvania. He went to court. He tried to have Hannah’s income cut off. She had not even paid for William’s funeral when this happened. William Jr. was so sure that he would win that he sent a message to Governor Keith saying that he was in charge.
At first the court thought that it would give the inheritance to William Jr. Usually property went to the oldest son. People in both the Board of Trade and in the Assembly spoke up for Hannah. They supported her claim to her husband’s property. The court decided in Hannah’s favor. The only thing that they did not allow was the income of 300 pounds a year. This was because it was written after the will had been witnessed. They said added paragraphs were not legal.
Hannah Moves to Town
The house in Ruscombe was very large. It took a lot of work and money to run. Hannah had stayed there because William liked it. Now that he was dead, she had no wish to stay. Her children were mostly grown. She was lonely so far from the city. Most of all, she wanted to save money. Hannah decided to give up the house and move to rented rooms. She kept only one servant. She moved out on March 25, 1719.
By now, half of the payment on the mortgage had been made. Hannah wanted to pay off the rest. The house at Pennsbury belonged to William Jr. The furniture did not. Hannah arranged to have the furniture sold to raise money.
In 1720 William Jr. died in France of tuberculosis. Hannah hoped that this would bring peace. It did not. William Jr.’s son, Springett, was the new problem. He had lived in Hannah’s home since he was 8 years old. He had always been friendly to her. But Springett wanted money. Now he also tried to overturn his grandfather’s will.
Hannah Penn, Proprietor
Hannah was now the Proprietor of Pennsylvania. That meant that she was the legal governor. Lord Oxford and Earl Poulet followed her wishes.
Hannah continued to try to have the Crown take over the governing of Pennsylvania. In 1720 she sent a five-page petition to the Lords Justice of Great Britain. She asked for the surrender of the colony to be completed. She also asked for a final decision on Lord Baltimore’s claim. There was no answer. The next year Hannah sent another petition. This one was sent on April 25, 1721 to the Court of Exchequer. Hannah would not give up.
Back in Pennsylvania, there were problems. The Assembly passed a law taking away a woman’s right to inherit her husband’s estate. A woman named Rebecca Clark Richardson had inherited her husband’s estate. The court sold everything and left her nothing. This distressed Hannah. She wrote to Governor Keith. She asked him to right this wrong.
Ex-Governor Gookin was still hanging around. He wanted to own the islands in the Delaware River. On June 29, 1720 Hannah went to court with her lawyer, Andrew Hamilton. She stated that the islands were part of the Pennsylvania colony. The court took one year to decide. They decided that the islands belonged to the Crown.
Hannah is Sick
Hannah continued to write to James Logan. He was her advisor, her agent, and her friend. When Mrs. Logan had a baby girl, James named her Hannah.
In the last months of 1721 Hannah Penn had a stroke. It did not affect her mind. It did make her body very weak. In 1722 Dennis died of smallpox. He was 16 years old. Hannah was very sad.
James Logan did not hear from Hannah for 20 months. He was worried that she was upset with him. He wrote a letter and asked what was wrong. John wrote back and said that Hannah was sick. John tried to keep in touch with Logan. He did not always write. John was often sick, too.
Hannah still managed her affairs. In 1724 she sold some land in Bristol. She kept an eye on the accounts from Pennsylvania. When a man named Thomas Cox paid too much rent, Hannah told James Logan to pay him back.
Hannah moved several times. She lived in Hammersmith, Crown Court, Aldersgate, London, Bath, Tumbridge Wells, and Bristol.
James Logan Comes to England
Hannah had always been very good about writing letters. Now she could not write so often. James Logan was concerned. He decided to go to England to see her. He sailed in autumn of 1723. Hannah was delighted to see him. She longed to hear how the colony was doing.
There were two major areas of business to be discussed. The first was the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Together, Hannah and Logan went to see Lord Baltimore. They met him at the George and Vulture Tavern on February 17, 1724. They signed an agreement. It said that both sides would leave the lower counties alone for 18 months. Neither would ask for rents from the people who lived there.
The second concern was about the control of Pennsylvania. Governor Keith was a good governor. He looked out for the rights of the Quakers and the Native Americans. But he did not like James Logan. He also did not like taking orders from a woman. He made some laws without talking with the Council. Hannah wrote to him. She told him that he must do things her way. If he did not, she could take away his job. She said that he must respect James Logan. She told him to make Logan Secretary of the Government.
Hannah designed a new way to keep track of rents that were paid. It was more business-like. She gave James Logan 5000 acres of land. She told him to make sure that people did their jobs.
Another New Governor
By 1725 Hannah was feeling much better. The mortgage was almost paid off. She changed her mind about letting the Crown take over Pennsylvania. She thought that perhaps she could keep the colony for her children.
In Pennsylvania, Governor Keith still could not get along with James Logan. One of them had to go. Hannah trusted James Logan. She dismissed Governor Keith. In 1726 she appointed a new governor. His name was Major Patrick Gordon. Hannah sent instructions to him. She told him to be good to the Native Americans. She also told him to make James Logan Secretary and Clerk of Council.
Governor Keith had been talking to the Assembly. He told them that the Penns were unfair to him. The Assembly wrote to Hannah and complained about her treatment of Keith. She answered their letter in April. She told them that what they believed about Keith was not true. She told them that they were lucky that he had not taken over the government.
Governor Gordon arrived in Philadelphia. His commission was read to the Council on June 22. He was now the official governor.
A New Will
On January 7, 1726 Hannah made a new will. She left half of her property to John. He was expected to give Margaret 2000 pounds when she was married, or when she turned 21. One quarter of the estate went to Thomas, and one quarter to Richard.
Hannah’s Last Days
Hannah wrote one more petition to the Court of Exchequer. She asked them to rule on William’s will. On December 13, 1726 they finally made a decision. They ruled in favor of Hannah. She was the rightful heir. The whole process had taken 8 years. It had taken most of the family’s money, and all of Hannah’s strength.
One week later, on December 20, 1726, Hannah had a second stroke. She had been well all day. She had eaten dinner. Then, suddenly, she lost her power to speak. She died 20 hours later. Hannah was buried with William at Jordan’s Meeting House in Buckinghamshire, England.
Hannah Penn’s Legacy
Hannah had done a good job. In Pennsylvania, religious beliefs were respected. There had been no fighting over the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania. The people lived in peace. The only unfinished business was the argument over the border. This was finally decided, in Pennsylvania’s favor, in 1751. James Logan lived long enough to see this happen.
There was no executor for Hannah’s will. The court did honor William’s will. Springett claimed Pennsbury manor and the land around it. The rest remained with Hannah’s children. They held Pennsylvania until the Revolutionary War. At that time Pennsylvania became a state of the new United States, and no longer had ties to any one owner.
An honor for Hannah
On November 28, 1984 President Ronald Reagan made both William and Hannah Penn honorary citizens of the United States.
Where we see her name today
There are several streets in the Philadelphia area named Callowhill. This was Hannah’s family name.
There is a Hannah Penn Middle School in York, Pennsylvania.
Reading Level 5.4. Sketch of Hannah Penn courtesy of the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College. Callowhill Street sign M. Yates.
Reading Level 5.4. Sketch of Hannah Penn courtesy of the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College. Callowhill Street sign M. Yates.
